Last week, we explored how Marcus Aurelius created an unyielding mental fortress as we made our way through ancient Rome. This week’s journey takes us to ancient China, where we meet a wise man who taught us about harmony and the importance of connecting to one another in ways that are timeless and continue to shape the world today. 

Today’s world has become increasingly polarized with division between communities, political parties, and families. Relationships are like walking through a mine field; sometimes you don’t know what’s there until you step on it! You might worry if you can find something in common with another person (the answer is yes!) or if you’ll be able to establish a meaningful relationship with someone (again, the answer is yes!). Is it possible that all of this has happened because we are missing an ancient model of how to live harmoniously with each other that was created over 2500 years ago in ancient China?

Confucius (circa 551–479 B.C.E.) was a teacher, philosopher, and political theorist from ancient China. His teachings have influenced much of East Asia and continue to provide us with guidance on how to create positive and fulfilling relationships with others today.

The Wandering Sage of Lu

Confucius (or Kǒngzǐ, Master Kong) lived during China's Spring and Autumn period, a time of significant social and political upheaval. He witnessed the degradation of the traditional values, rulers abusing their authority, and the breakdown of social harmony. Confucius thought he could provide a means to recover the past's lost wisdom, and restore virtue and order to society.

Confucius was not like Marcus Aurelius who ruled from supreme power but instead was a humble scholar that spent much of his life traveling between various kingdoms searching for someone to implement his way of thinking. While he never found such a person during his lifetime, the Analects, a collection of Confucius's sayings compiled by his students, has later become one of history's most influential works.